Clearview National June 2016 - Issue 175 | Page 54
DOORS&WINDOWS
Good growth despite
challenging market conditions
The UK door and window fabrication market has turned from steady
decline over several years to growth since 2013, with prospects of further
growth over the next 5 years. According to a new report from AMA
Research, the market for door and window fabricators increased by around
3% in 2015, following good growth of 5% in the previous year.
DEPENDENT ON
PERFORMANCE
The report reviews all sectors
of the glazing market, including
doors, windows, entrance systems
in both residential and commercial
applications. As a result, general
trends in the economy and
construction in particular all
influence the sector, and it is
important to emphasise that the
door and window fabrication sector
is dependent on the performance of
a number of markets, often moving
in very different directions - private
home improvement, public sector
housing renovation, housebuilding,
and commercial new build and
refurbishment etc.
‘a strong growth area
in the last few years
has been the ‘home
extension’ sector’
MORE USE OF COLOUR
While generally a mature sector,
the product ranges offered by
window and door fabricators have
been influenced by the use of
composite and hybrid materials,
more use of colours (e.g. greys),
improved thermal performance
and locking systems, growth of
bifolds/rooflights etc.
The supply structure remains
very fragmented, comprising
a mix of vertically integrated
retail glazing companies, PVCu
trade fabricators and fabricator/
installers, aluminium systems
fabricator/installers, bespoke
glazing contractors, composite
door manufacturers, commercial
glazing specialists, roof light
manufacturers, steel window
manufacturers and major joinery
companies etc.
The sector has seen some
restructuring, particularly in
more difficult periods, but the
diversity of products, materials
‘Residential windows’ is the
largest sector, driven primarily by
replacement demand, though new
housing volumes have increased
in recent years. However, a strong
growth area in the last few years has
been the ’home extension’ sector,
which is driving the growth of
bifold doors in particular.
Commercial windows and
curtain walling have a total share
of over 20% of the market and
have enjoyed good growth on the
back of a recovery in the office
construction sector.
54 » JUN 2016 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M
and applications etc., provide
opportunities for major groups
operations and small niche
suppliers alike.
‘opportunities
for major groups
operations and small
niche suppliers alike’
STEADY MODEST
GROWTH
“Steady improvement in the
glazing market in the medium
term is anticipated, given sustained
growth in construction activity,
particularly housebuilding and
key non-residential sectors such
as offices, leisure, education,”
comments Jane Tarver, AMA
Research. “This in turn will lead to
steady if modest growth for door
and window fabricators with value
growth likely to be constrained by
high levels of price competition.”
FOCUS ON GREEN
The UK market for residential
windows is very competitive and
is likely to remain so, though
within the next few years we
expect capacity and demand to
become more balanced as demand
from the housebuilding sector
continues to expand, resulting in
less pressure on supplier prices
and profitability. Ultimately, the
industry is mature and, in the
longer term, heavily dependent
on replacement demand in the
residential sector, supported
by new build activity in key
non-residential markets. The
market will continue to develop
in response to legislation and
building regulations, and will
continue to focus on ‘green’
building materials and thermal
efficiency in particular.
‘will continue to
develop in response
to legislation and
building regulations’
The ‘Door and Window
Fabricators Market Report – UK
2016-2020 Analysis’ report is
published by AMA Research,
a leading provider of market
research and consultancy services
with over 25 years’ experience
within the construction and home
improvement markets.
www.amaresearch.co.uk